Colin Youren

Colin Youren was a skilled wingman who played an instrumental role in Hawthorn's rise from cellar dwellers to premiership heavyweights in the early 1960s. The son of former Magpie George Youren, Colin joined the Hawks from Scotch College and established himself as a polished, high-calibre midfielder. He is best remembered as one-third of the club's famed centre line alongside Brendan Edwards and John Fisher, a trio that provided the run and precision required to execute coach John Kennedy’s demanding game plan.

Youren’s place in Hawthorn folklore was sealed as a member of the historic 1961 premiership side, the club's first VFL flag. He overcame patchy form early in that season to become a key contributor, famously turning his year around with a dominant display against Geelong that sparked the team's run to the finals. He backed this up with a strong 1963 campaign, polling a career-high 10 Brownlow votes and representing Victoria, before surprisingly retiring at just 26 years of age due to work commitments.